Egypt's Heart

Update: I just received this email from CSC:

Your background checks are now complete. Your case is currently being adjudicated. You should receive a notice of action within 10 days. The notice of action may be in the form of Approval Notice, Denial Notice, Transfer Notice, Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny or Notice of Intent to Revoke. Thank you very much.

Ok. It's moving!!! I'm praying now it's an approval!!

Sniff, Sniff, I smell an A P P R O V A L !!!!

I wasn't born in the USA and don't have a birth certificate and on the Embassy website it doesn't say I need one. Only says I need my passport. I do have my USA citizen papers, I sent my birth certificate in for that and they never returned it. Hummm now I'm confused, is this for the Free to Marry certificate? Thank you for the info.

Nothing is ever easy is it!

No, you dont need birth certificate to get the letter from embassy to marry, Your passport is what they will ask for.

When i mentioned papers, I meant since your going to stay there for 6 months then file, I was just saying take any papers you may need , for process, cause being in Egypt, its not going to be easy to get from USA, unless you have contact person here who can assist you. We thought of doing the DCF, but with my job here, and house, and etc, we decided not too.

Good day to all my fellow VJ members,

I recently married my fiancee by way of a proxy marriage here in the US in the good ole state of Texas, she was not present as the proxy stood for her and all notarized documents giving permission to do so were verified before hand. I am a resident of NC and my wife is a Brazilian National. I have researched and found that these marriages are recognized for immigration as long as they are consummated. I am going to Rio on the 31st of this month to spend some time with my wife and then return to start the CR-1 visa process. I would like to know from all anything that you have experienced that will help me, the average time it took to receive the Consulate interview and what all I will need as far as forms and their preparation to make this process as smooth as possible. She speaks no english, but I can speak Portuguese and I am 18 years older than her. I will go to the interview with her when she receives it to prove the validity of our marriage. All responses are welcome and experiences from Rio Consulate interviewees are greatly appreciated.

Thanks to you all.

Never wanted to think of this again, but I was married via proxy in Texas, "after spending a fortune on docs and translation to marry in France, then all expired before we could marry there,"..... and filed with USCIS, it was a nightmare from Hell.

Do yourself a BIG favor, go over there and marry her properly. Its hard to prove a consumated marriage in the proxy marriage ways, my filing was a nightmare, took a 15 pounder of evidence to get an approval. So save yourself a hugh headache and marry her there, or buy stock in Excedrin. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more of the nightmare. Its my past, and the past is the past, live and learn. Proxy marriage is the #1 Big Red Flag!!!!! but I was a dumb bunny and thought i loved him, etc etc etc, truth was, he was useing me for a visa, anyways............. just saying marry her the normal way.

Best wishes!!!!

OK, after reading the "red flags list" I realize it is mostly for K-1 visa, but post #10 mentioned something about convincing the VO that a sister did not introduce us. I am working on our EOR letter and now I'm concerned. My wife and I are an arrangement. Her parents are deceased and her eldest sister (a USC) and my friend (who is like a sister) were our "matchmakers." With regards to her sister, as with most cultures, the eldest child will take on the role of the parents in their absence. I am not sure how being introduced by family would cause a "red flag." Especially if the family member is a USC. Maybe someone could lend a little clarity on this matter? Thank you.

Could you please tell me where that Red Flag list is on VJ/ to PM it to me, I would be greatful.

All the best!!!

What have you done so far? Have you contacted anyone? Do you know why it is taking 9 months so far? Is your congressman, senator involved?

All these long waits really have me worried.

If I remember correctly, USCIS has 180 days to approve or deny or issue a RFE, Ive seen about 3 to 4 months max for approvals lately. I would contact USCIS first, and then your senator or congressman , ASAP.

Thank you Bethy, no worries didn't think you were implying anything just some great info.

What papers do you mean, I'm staying in Egypt I'm not coming back without my man. What I know is I have to stay for 6 months until we can file then who knows

how long after that.

I'll be praying you'll be pleasantly surprised .

You will need your birth cert. certified copy or original, you last 3 years of income tax returns, if you were married before, your divorce decree, basically anything of personal importance involved with USCIS.

hello visa journey members well, finally, they sheduled me for an interview at september 19th, I tried to call them to ask few questions but, the consulate department of the embassy never pick up the phone !! I tried many times but, it never worked, I just wanted to know how many photos they will need, is it ok to bring a DVD of the wedding as a proof, is it ok to take with me some picyures of me and my wife, and if there will be any fees to pay at the embassy after the interview, also guys, anyone could tell me about what they will ask me. I wish you all a very good luck for the rest of your journeys. thanks in advance for help .. peace .

Take every pic you have with you, also here a link, read it, also read the reviews there for the embassy, aits a big help to know what to expect there on interview day.

Best wishes........ http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Tunisia&cty=Tunis

If there is a genuine reason, embassy will consider it, I had our interview moved up. Does not hurt to ask them. Email them.

Best wishes.

No , they are not issued within the same day as interview.

Here is a link with information you need to read. Good luck for your wifes interview.

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Russia&cty=Moscow

Also read the Embassy review links for Moscow at top of the page, they ar a good read of past interview and such.

Ty Bethy, I had never thought of it that way. I have almost four years worth so I'm fine thank God. Thank you again for your input. I hope this helps someone in the future. I just had to pay $365 rebooking, it's worth it but geez it hurts.

Oh one last thing, take the papers for immigration over with you, have him fill them out while your there, and have him make new passport photos also for immigration process. I forget to do this, and it delayed us, we will be filing shortly, but thats okay.................... Its gonna be a hell of a ride with immigration for us I think, but maybe I will be pleasantly

surprised........

Ty Bethy, I had never thought of it that way. I have almost four years worth so I'm fine thank God. Thank you again for your input. I hope this helps someone in the future. I just had to pay $365 rebooking, it's worth it but geez it hurts.

Soloenta, I was not implying anything directly to you when I mentioned the part of relationships that began after revolution, Im glad you have 4 years worth we have about 18 months of chats, and pics of us when I was there in May when we married, and with his family and some freinds also. YOU know pics are important with family!!!

So when do you leave for Egypt? I go back Jan. 6th for a week this time, and I will attend the interviews o.

If you have questions on the marriage process over there, feel free to ask, I just married in May there as you know, took us 1 day. Just have all your ducks in a row and all your papers, and you will finish quickly there for marriage!!

My fiance lives in Afghanistan and it is really expensive to call there, a prepaid card gives only 19 minutes for $5, but still i spent almost all my salary talking to him and the cheapest card is the prepaid card,, i told my attorney if my fiance should take my used cards to his interview and he told me that no they dont need anything like that, i didnt know that you have too keep things like this,, anyways i have been emailing him a lot and saved some of our chats,, do you guys think that i should print out my inbox and outbox??

Yes print out the logs of outgoing and incoming emails of the 2 of you's, and keep ALL chats. My husband and I chat

on Yahoo with mic and camera, cheaper then phone, also do the Time stamps on chats. Keep any and all evidence that can

support your case. Best wishes.

Wow Wendy, it was nerve racking but no, no problems at all thank God. I'm going to have to try to get in just go really early because I can't not be married until Oct. My flight is for tomorrow. Thank you for your input always so spot on.

WOW I cant believe there is NOTHING open for September, i was shocked when I looked myself, WTH??

We were lucky, I changed our embassy appointments when I was there in May to a few days later, many slots were open.

Wonder why all booked up? I do know Embassy will truly look at cases when interview time comes , of relationships that started after the Revolution there. I feel sorry for those couples.So have all the evidence BEFORE revolution began for interview.

Was supposed to be on a flight to Cairo right now but left my passport at home . Yes brilliant hahahaa OMG I wanted to cry. Ok now that, that is said I need this question answered please.

I checked with the US Embassy online and they are booked for appointments for notaries but I need a Free To Marry now as in when I get to Egypt on Sept 2 so maybe Sept 4 Th since it's a Sunday and they are open it says. Can I just go to the Embassy as a walk in? Seems I'm starting out on the wrong foot hoping things will turn around.

Maybe my posting is confusing, you can not walk in for the Permission to Marry Letter, you have to make an appointment, and take your ficance with you, just make a appointment for him to guarantee he can come in with you. And be prepared, they are snotty there for these types of letters. Best wishes and Good Luck.

I got married in Egypt in April 2011. It took us 6 days from start to finish to complete all the steps.

Please look at this website of the embassy. It explains it all. But it does not tell you how busy each agency is that you go to and wait all day...

Good luck

http://egypt.usembassy.gov/consular/acs12.html

You have to make a appointment, and make on for your ficance also. I got married in May there, took us 1 day, most of that is waiting around for embassy , and then had to run to immigration to get my passport stamped off, then waiting at

the Ministry of Justice. Just have all your ducks in a row, and it will be easy. Read their site, it does help you know here all you have to go and what you need to marry there.

Ramadan Kareem to you and your family.

Same with me, round #2 with USCIS, but in first go-about, I cancelled his visa.

I was told that UCIS dont hold past filing against you, but of course our new loves must know all, cause Im sure it

will come up at interview, we all know how caddy they can be.

As long as you have strong evidence of a on going relationship, and send it what they want, no reason not to

receive an NOA2. Its the interview where the tap dancing shoes have to be in place, good luck to all on your journeys, Im

combing over our paperwork and ready to send out UPS this upcoming week. God bless us all.

Lovely afternoon in the MENA neighborhood! I am trying to get all these AOS papers filled out and finish his medical (just a few shots) so we can mail them out before end of week inshallah. I just have to make time (which I have more than I have money) and I can't seem to get my s#*t together!

Good afternoon all, well almost finished our paperwork to send in the I-130, then the long ride on the USCIS rollercoaster.

Hope everyone is well and happy.

Beth

Liter of Tequila, few limes, and salt, best way to deal with USCIS. Im stocking up for my roller-coaster ride with USCIS.

Class of 2008, formally Paris Heart. Nice to see the old faces here. I've missed VJ. Best wishes everyone.

Also, attending the next interview would be good. There is more then just a age difference in this case, the C/O saw something else, and maybe something you did not know. As Pushbrk mentioned, have your ficancee' write out all that was said, and also what paper was he given, was it AP or a flat out denial?

Ive known 2 other Egyptian/American couples who got the ran around after the K1 interview, so they just married in Egypt , applied again , this time for a CR-1 and was approved, and both ladies attended interview with their husbands, I think that made a difference. Best wishes.

What to do next depends on whether you came here simply to object and complain or take constructive action. Your age difference is relevant in the eyes of the Consular officers who will make decisions about any visa. For us to help you, we need to understand your circumstances including not just the age difference but the actual ages, how many visits and for how long, how you initially became acquainted and anything else except your actual names, dates of birth and other private information that you think might be considered applicable to your situation.

You'll also want to ask you fiance to write as complete and accurate a description (think verbatim transcript) of his experience at the interview, specifically including the questions asked and answers given.

Oh yeah , the residency stamp, we got mine 1 hour before we married, the Ministry of Justice building is a real dump, hold tight in the elevator, but all in all went real smooth with signing of the contract, I did not know we were married, I signed my name 5 times, took thumb prints 5 times and BAM, we were married, we walked out of the office I asked Amr, when will we be married, he kissed me on cheek and said, We are married Mrs. Ali, haaa

Just as Betsy and her hubby did, we had a Wedding/Birthday celebration the night after we married with his family, and a friend. The night before we married, we had a pre wedding celebration, make sure you take lots of pics with his family and friends, they are important, especially if your not going to be there for a full 10 days. I knew of a person who got a RFE cause when they married, she was not there 10 days, I guess due to the high fraud there.

You dont need a big , fancy celebration, we had only pastrys, and soft drinks in our apartment in New Maadi with family and friends for the mini celebration. Best wishes.

Igot some pics of me with his family at there home and our apartment. And i have pics of our dinner party too, with our close friends.

That is all proof of a marriage, and good relations with family.

It shouldn't bother, cause as long as you have a real relationship, you will be able to prove that whether you had a wedding or nott

Good Luck for you and Samy

angel eyes, did you include pics of you and him with his family? Pics always do help.

Amr and I are not having "wedding" ceremony, but are planning a reception dinner and 2 dinner parties later in the 2nd week when Im there with family and friends. And of course will take lots of pics at our apartment and his familys homes too.